NPRCancer can be caused by tobacco smoke or by an inherited trait, but new research finds that most of the mutations that lead to cancer crop up naturally.
The authors of the study published Thursday poked a hornet's nest by suggesting that many cancers are unavoidable.
The provocative findings by Bert Vogelstein and Cristian Tomasetti at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, have stirred up a heated scientific debate that started two years ago, when they published a report along similar lines.READ MORE

ForbesA generations-long study on possible ties between birth control and cancer has revealed an overall healthy picture for the popular medicine, and even some new protective powers.
After more than four decades of collecting data, researchers at the University of Aberdeen have published findings which strongly suggest that birth control pills can protect women from certain cancers for 30 years or more after use, and are otherwise fairly neutral when it comes to cancer risk. READ MORE

MultiBriefs In an effort to enhance the overall content of Managed Care eNews, we’d like to include peer-written articles in future editions. As a member of NAMCP, your knowledge of the industry lends itself to unprecedented expertise. And we’re hoping you’ll share this expertise with your peers through well-written commentary. Because of the digital format, there’s no word limit, and our group of talented editors can help with final edits. If you’re interested in participating, please contact Ronnie Richard to discuss logistics.

CBS NewsNine deaths from a rare form of cancer have been linked to breast implants, the Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday.
Red flags were raised in 2011 regarding the safety of breast implants and their possible link to a type of lymphoma, but the FDA has now updated information on the risk to women with both silicone and saline breast implants.READ MORE

Cognitive Neuroscience Society via ScienceDailyResearchers have identified more than 100 genes important for memory in people. The study is among the first to identify correlations between gene data and brain activity during memory processing, providing a new window into human memory. It is part of the nascent but growing field of "imaging genetics," which aims to relate genetic variation to variation in brain anatomy and function.READ MORE

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston via ScienceDailyA person carrying variants of two particular genes could be almost three times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis, according to the latest findings from scientists at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and Duke University Medical Center.
One of these variants is in IL7R, a gene previously associated with MS, and the other in DDX39B, a gene not previously connected to the disease.READ MORE

CNNGenetic changes and variants linked to the development of brain and ovarian cancers have been discovered in two new studies. This significant development offers researchers the chance to understand more about how these cancers develop and how they may one day be treated, or even prevented.
READ MORE

MedscapeA single intrapenile injection of fat-derived stem cells harvested through abdominal liposuction can restore erectile function to a degree sufficient for intercourse, according to a first-in-human study.
And the effects were durable. The men, all of whom experienced erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy, reported intercourse when assessed 6 and 12 months after the injection.READ MORE

CNNFor decades, scientists have sought to create red blood cells in the lab — a "holy grail" that some hoped could ease regional blood shortages, especially for people with rare blood types.
But now British researchers say they have overcome a major barrier that has plagued many scientists: Creating enough red cells to fill a blood bag. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.READ MORE

The Motley FoolEvery day, an incredible amount of data is produced in the world of healthcare. So, it's no wonder that the leaders of the artificial intelligence industry see this sector as ripe for disruption.
In this segment from Motley Fool's Industry Focus: Healthcare podcast, the team describes some of the extraordinary work being done by collaborative efforts between leaders in the technology and healthcare sectors.READ MORE

Managed Healthcare ExecutiveDespite the uncertainty in today’s healthcare marketplace, certain fundamentals remain true. Today’s health plans must identify members who either have or are at risk for high-cost diseases; they must engage those members to close gaps in critical health measurements; and on the basis of these measurements, they must connect members to interventions that can improve the overall quality and efficiency of care. READ MORE

NPRScientists say they've made a device in the lab that can mimic the human female reproductive cycle.
The researchers hope the device, assembled from living tissue, will lead to new treatments for many medical problems that plague some women, ranging from fibroids and endometriosis to infertility, miscarriages and gynecologic cancers.READ MORE

CNETThuy Truong thought her aching back was just a pulled muscle from working out. But then came a high fever that wouldn't go away during a visit to Vietnam. When a friend insisted Truong, 30, go to an emergency room, doctors told her the last thing she expected to hear: She had lung cancer. Back in Los Angeles, Truong learned the cancer was at stage 4 and she had about eight months to live.READ MORE

MobiHealthNewsAs lawmakers on Capitol Hill wrangle over the fate of the Affordable Care Act and its would-be replacement, the American Health Care Act, the National Academy of Medicine said its four main priorities for fixing the country's healthcare industry include continuing the shift from fee-for-service to value based payment models; empowering people to be fully engaged in their healthcare decisions; tapping communities for local health solutions; and implementing integrated services and seamless digital interfaces.
READ MORE

Modern HealthcareThe CMS is trying to boost patient and provider participation in accountable care organizations by automating the process to pair patients with doctors enrolled in the care models.
In the coming weeks, a Medicare beneficiary can go to a website that contains their enrollment information and list his or her primary-care doctor. If that doctor is in an ACO, they would be assigned to both that provider and their ACO starting next year. READ MORE

Houston ChronicleHow big of a healthcare network do you really need?
Do you need an inch-thick directory of primary care doctors and specialists to choose from? Would you give up some choice for more convenience? How about agreeing to a few restrictions in return for lower premiums?
These are the questions employers ask themselves every year when it comes time to renew healthcare plans.READ MORE

ReutersU.S. health regulators on Thursday approved a drug developed by Merck KGaA and Pfizer Inc. that helps the immune system to fight a rare form of skin cancer once it has spread to other parts of the body.
The Food and Drug Administration said it approved Bavencio, known chemically as avelumab, to treat metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in patients 12 years and older.READ MORE

ABC NewsU.S. regulators have approved the first new drug in a decade for Parkinson's disease, a chronic neurological disorder that causes tremors and movement difficulties.
The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that it has approved Xadago for use when a patient's regular medicines aren't working well.
The pill was tested in two six-month studies that included about 1,200 patients taking a standard treatment, levodopa.READ MORE

Health Payer IntelligenceThe House of Representatives has voted 236-175 to move the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2017 to the Senate in an effort to increase health insurance options for small businesses.
The Act is designed to promote the growth of Association Health Plans, or plans that are sponsored by a trade organization, a membership organization that pays dues, or similarly structured groups that require participation to provide coverage.READ MORE

Fox NewsThere’s plenty of blame to go around, but one thing is clear:
The ObamaCare battle was Mission Impossible from the beginning, because Donald Trump ran against Republican orthodoxy on health insurance.
There was simply no way to satisfy the GOP’s most conservative wing, which wanted to junk most of ObamaCare, the center-right conservatives who don’t want millions to lose coverage or face huge rate hikes, and Trump’s own conditions.READ MORE

NAMCP UPDATES

Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc. is a rapidly emerging biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative therapies utilizing the Medici Drug Delivery System™ – therapies that have the potential to transform the prevention and management of serious chronic diseases. Across chronic diseases, medication non-adherence can compromise clinical outcomes and drive excess cost to the healthcare system. Intarcia is working to address this problem through innovative technologies. We invite you to visit our website to learn more.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued positive guidance recommending the use of the HeartFlow FFRct Analysis to help determine the cause of stable chest pain in patients. The HeartFlow FFRct Analysis is the first non-invasive technology to provide insight into both the extent of coronary artery disease and the impact that disease has on blood flow to the heart, aiding clinicians in selecting an appropriate treatment. Please click here to view the full press release.

Last month, Novo Nordisk received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for the New Drug Application (NDA) for Xultophy® 100/3.6. Xultophy® 100/3.6 is a combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide, indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled on basal insulin or liraglutide. The FDA has required Novo Nordisk to distribute the safety notice as part of the Xultophy® 100/3.6 REMS program. Click Here for the Letter. Click Here for the fact sheet.

Courtagen Life Sciences, Inc., an innovative molecular information company focused on providing genetic diagnoses for neurological conditions through next generation sequencing, offers a broad range of genetic testing panels for epilepsy, including recently-added epiSEEK® Spotlight Panels designed to target genes that have been reported in association with specific phenotypes for epilepsy and seizure disorders. Please click here for more information.

Based on published clinical data, Humana, Medical Mutual of Ohio and Preferred One independently determined and published policies stating that Biodesix’ VeriStrat® test can be considered medically necessary for patients with advanced NSCLC. The VeriStrat test provides physicians with prognostic and predictive information to inform treatment of advanced NSCLC, and can facilitate patient-physician conversations about prognosis, life expectancy, and treatment recommendations. Click here for more information.

The treatment cost for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in the U.S. is approximately $14 billion a year and is projected to rise through 2020. To help managed care professionals more effectively analyze medical and pharmacy claims, Bayer has developed the “Treatment and Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Evidence” (TRACE) Analyzer. Click here for more information and who to contact.

In a recently published study, researchers demonstrated that the DecisionDx-UM gene expression profile test accurately predicts metastatic risk for uveal melanoma patients and is being used by physicians to appropriately guide patient care decisions with the ultimate goal to improve net health outcomes. Please click here to review the full press release.